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There are few journeys as magical as a trip on a steam practice – and whenever you add within the man in pink, the Santa Steam Specific is without doubt one of the most memorable experiences at Christmas in London with youngsters. (UPDATED FOR 2023)
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Working for just some days throughout December, it’s the one Santa steam practice in London: launched in 2021, we hopped on board when it happy its method again into the capital for 2022 and it’s again once more for 2023.
Certainly one of a rising variety of Santa steam practice rides across the nation, promising treats, presents, a gathering with Father Christmas and festive music, our Santa Steam Specific evaluate has all the pieces you must know earlier than you e book.
For extra locations to see Santa in London with youngsters, try my high picks
Santa Steam Specific evaluate
We may scent the steam practice earlier than we noticed it – with a steam practice fanatic for a father, I’ve been on numerous rides over time and there’s one thing immediately recognisable concerning the whiff of coal-fired steam.
We weren’t the one ones excited to identify the engine puffing merrily away at Victoria station both: together with all the opposite households lining as much as board, quite a lot of individuals ready for their very own trains have been snapping photographs of the gleaming black and pink Sherwood Forester.
Certainly one of a number of engines used for the Steam Goals Santa Steam Specific, together with different classic locomotives together with the Mayflower, the Sherwood Forester was in-built 1936 and after working everywhere in the nation for years, is now a agency favorite on heritage railways in England and Scotland.
Steam Goals itself was arrange simply over 20 years in the past for a day journey from London to Salisbury, and has now expanded to run greater than 50 journeys throughout the UK, with greater than 20,000 passengers boarding one of many specific providers or longer holidays every year.
Welcomed and directed by a string of useful elves, we made our method down the platform to our first-class carriage, embellished with baubles on the home windows, pine cones and festive cups on the white tablecloth, and different seasonal touches to rework the Seventies carriages.
The primary treats awaited us as we sat down – gingerbread males and cartons of apple juice, plus a enjoyable festive exercise sheet for youths to do (adopted virtually instantly by the arrival of an additional little festive present bag for youths with extra gingerbread, juice, raisins and a chocolate Santa).
We’d barely begun tucking in when the practice began on its journey and Mrs Claus appeared, encouraging us to eat our gingerbread (which have been scrumptious) and posing for photographs.
Following shut behind was Mr Claus, and you can hear the ripple of pleasure by way of the carriage as the youngsters obtained their first look of Santa.
Stopping to speak to every youngster, he was very affected person with all of them – together with those that immediately turned shy and quiet for the event – checking in the event that they’d been good, asking what was on their Christmas listing (at all times barely harmful 4 days earlier than Christmas) and posing for extra photographs earlier than transferring on.
With a trainload of children to see, there’s not a lot time to hold round, nevertheless it by no means felt rushed.
Every youngster additionally will get a present, handed out by one of many elves accompanying Santa. There have been totally different choices and it did appear to be tailor-made by age – my 10-year-old obtained a set of multicoloured leather-based juggling balls, a close-by seven-year-old acquired a picket tower recreation, whereas a few of the youthful youngsters close by got picket whistles (which sounded very very like a practice whistle).
After the flurry of exercise to begin the journey, we then had likelihood to tuck into these gingerbread and make a begin on the exercise sheet, which was additionally designed to work for various ages with numerous problem ranges.
Within the background, there’s music enjoying all through too, which supplies the journey a pleasant festive really feel (though it did appear patchy at instances).
The journey additionally completed with a really temporary singalong when elves handed by way of singing Jingle Bells – our desk gave the impression to be lacking the music sheet, however as everybody just about is aware of the phrases, it wasn’t an issue. It’s extra of a pleasant seasonal flourish than a significant a part of the expertise (though in case your youngsters hate becoming a member of in with issues like that, it’s additionally over fairly shortly!)
After being supplied a cup of tea on the very begin, and getting our giant stash of gingerbread, there was fairly a spot till virtually the tip of the journey – over an hour later – earlier than any of the opposite food and drinks turned up.
As we have been in First Class, the ticket included mulled wine (for adults) and a sausage roll, together with a mince pie – edit: our tickets are akin to the brand new Premium Customary Class choice, which now not appears to incorporate additional meals.
We’d all however determined they weren’t coming in any case, when 75 minutes after departure, all the pieces turned up in a single go. On condition that we have been filled with gingerbread, and had had lunch earlier than boarding, it wasn’t actually a problem however is price taking into consideration in the event you’re counting on it.
Which left us loads of time to gaze out of the window on the surroundings: ranging from Victoria, there’s clearly a restrict to how far you possibly can journey within the time, so don’t anticipate superb countryside.
There are a couple of good moments, particularly as you cross the Thames, and an opportunity to identify Battersea Energy Station, however as you’re going by way of the suburbs of north-west, west and south London, it’s not that scenic and in elements positively city. Though the place else are you able to see the McVitie’s biscuit manufacturing facility out of your window?
And in my daughter’s eyes, she was journeying aboard the Hogwarts Specific reasonably than searching over railway sidings in Willesden.
The decision? For a big serving to of nostalgia, a really laid-back Christmas expertise amongst all of the seasonal stress, and loads of festive magic, there’s no different time out in London with youngsters that’s fairly like this one.
What age is the Santa Steam Specific for?
There was fairly a spread of ages on board for our practice trip, from a child along with her preschooler brother to my 10-year-old, who’s in all probability on the higher restrict of those that’ll benefit from the expertise – a final likelihood for a dose of Christmas magic.
In the meantime, the youthful youngsters cherished the possibility to see Santa, however at shut to 2 hours on board, it’s a very long time to sit down nonetheless. There’s a lot happening to maintain them entertained, nevertheless it’s positively price having some extras for the tip of the journey.
You additionally get a letter from Santa as a part of the reserving, which is nice to get youthful youngsters excited, revealing that ‘just a few fortunate kids will get to go to me on my particular steam practice’ – and that they’ve been adequate.
Personally, I believe the candy spot might be round age 5-7, nevertheless it’s cleverly accomplished in order that there’s one thing to enchantment to all ages, from the items to the actions.
Is it price upgrading to First Class?
Once we travelled in 2022, the primary class carriages had a extra conventional, classic really feel to them versus Customary Class – each date from the identical period, however Customary Class had a extra trendy vibe.
These have now been rebranded as Premium Customary Class, whereas First Class bookings are for a personal compartment for as much as six individuals.
There are additionally fewer individuals within the carriages, and little additional touches just like the tablecloth on our desk. All carriages are dressed up with decorations although, so that you’ll get the festive environment wherever you sit.
Our tickets additionally included a few different added extras just like the mulled wine for adults and sausage rolls (though we didn’t find yourself consuming/consuming ours), however mulled wine is now included for Customary Class (and neither will get sausage rolls), so that you received’t be lacking out.
You do get some good bonuses, together with the privateness of your personal compartment, in the event you e book First Class – with six individuals, it really works out simply over £90 per individual, in the event you fancy paying the additional.
Is it price travelling to London for?
Is it price travelling to London only for the Santa Steam Specific? Virtually definitely not.
Not as a result of it’s not an ideal expertise: in the event you’re within the metropolis anyway, it’s a stunning choice for a festive time out, and the one Santa steam practice in London.
There are additionally an enormous variety of different issues to do at Christmas in London with youngsters so you possibly can mix the journey with seeing the Christmas lights, the Christmas markets, Christmas theatre and ice skating too.
However the countryside is sort of definitely going to be prettier on different Santa Steam practice rides elsewhere within the UK, plus many others have additional actions and experiences at first, which you merely can’t do at Victoria station.
Whereas it’s not the most cost effective Christmas time out for households, the value of the London practice trip is on a par with related heritage rail experiences elsewhere.
Santa Steam Specific ideas
Be ready to queue if you wish to see contained in the engine – we have been advised there can be round half an hour after the journey for passengers to do that, however whereas that seems like lots, it does imply loads of hanging round if many of the practice needs to do it too.
As we have been ultimately carriage, by the point we’d walked as much as the entrance, lots of people have been already ready so in the event you can look inside earlier than departure, it’s properly price doing.
No matter you select, it’s also possible to pose with the steam practice with out a lot ready.
Flip up early: we have been really helpful to get there at 1.20 for a 1.45 departure, and other than a couple of minutes ready to get onto the platform, it positively didn’t really feel like we have been hanging round, particularly with the stroll right down to our carriage.
Costume up – you don’t get given a Santa hat or something related as a part of the expertise, so it’s enjoyable to deliver your personal (or escape the sequins and Christmas jumper).
Profit from Victoria’s services. There are bogs on board the practice (though not child altering) nevertheless it’s price utilizing the bathroom services on the station earlier than you board.
They’re free to make use of, there’s much less likelihood of queueing, and it additionally signifies that – like one household I noticed – you received’t be hanging across the practice bogs simply as Santa will get to your carriage.
There are additionally an entire string of locations to purchase meals on the station in the event you’re searching for a fast lunch earlier than or after your journey (or shopping for extra meals/snacks to tackle board).
Santa Steam Specific: have to know
There are restricted departures of the Santa Steam Specific in London, happening on three dates in 2023 – on December 15, 18 and 21, with 4 departures every day.
Test the exact timings on the Steam Goals web site for extra particulars and to e book.
The steam journey itself is described as lasting 1 hour quarter-hour, however timings appeared considerably versatile: our journey set off at 1.45pm and obtained again to Victoria at round 3.30pm – we have been additionally suggested to reach at round 1.20pm for the journey so permit at the least two hours, particularly in the event you plan to queue to go contained in the engine afterwards too.
Tickets are despatched round 5 days earlier than departure as soon as Steam Goals receives affirmation of ultimate timings from Community Rail.
There are bogs on board however no baby-changing services. Buggies have to be saved on the station, the place there’s a separate space put apart.
Tickets value £65 for adults and kids aged two to 16 in customary class, £75 in premium customary class. There’s additionally an choice to e book a First Class carriage for six individuals for £550. Beneath-twos are free in the event that they sit in your lap for the journey.
Premium customary tickets embody mulled wine for adults, with tea and occasional in Customary Class, plus mince pies, drinks and candy treats for youths. We have been additionally supplied sausage rolls, however this appears solely to be an choice for First Class bookings.
Present vouchers are additionally accessible, costing a minimal of £50, legitimate for a 12 months from the date of buy.
For extra of the greatest Santa steam trains within the UK, try my decide of the very best throughout the nation for households
Disclosure: Our journey on the Santa Steam Specific was free for the needs of evaluate – all opinions are my very own. This submit incorporates affiliate hyperlinks: any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Principal picture/Santa on platform courtesy of Steam Goals, all others copyright MummyTravels
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